Guru Poornima the auspicious Full Moon

Guru Poornima – This Friday July 27th 1:20pm PDT

I have always been in awe of the beauty and spectacle of a Full Moon. As a youth I would place a blanket on the roof of my car to sit and lie there in stillness and watch the majesty of the night sky, I would close my eyes and feel a connection between the moon and I. Now, I can see that those moments of silence and stillness were my first steps toward meditation. My understanding and appreciation is much greater now and I look forward to This Friday July 27th 1:20pm PDT and the Full Moon called Guru Poornima.

Guru Poornima is an opportunity to give thanks and appreciation for teachers, mentors, parents, friends and family members who have been positive life guides and influencers. For millennia in various parts of the world the tradition of keeping the day of Guru Poornima, the full moon in July significant, has been maintained.

In the West we understand the word Guru from its two root words, 'Gu' and 'Ru' . The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru. In the East Guru is not just a person but it is considered as the divine guiding energy, which helps humanity to realize its true nature. This energy works through an able person who is pure enough to hold it.

I am fortunate to have sat in the presence of true Gurus, and the light, peace and guidance they embody is a blessing to the world.

Swamini Turiyasangitananda my Sat Guru, made this day a celebration. She reminded us that the first Guru is our mother. The one who taught us while we were in the womb. The Saints, Sages and great Spiritual Masters were acknowledged. We would often hold vigil staying up through the night until morning, filling the time with prayer, chanting, reading sacred text and meditating.

Dear Swamini, thank you for all the blessings, guidance, and encouragement to . . . . . . “Go beyond salvation, beyond liberation, Self realization and install the Lord in the heart and Go forward all the way to God realization.”

The Guru leads us from the darkness of spiritual ignorance to the light of pure consciousness/knowledge. The relationship of student and Guru is what is revered on this day.

A simple practice might be to chant The Pavamana Mantra below. This mantra is asking the Guru for assistance so that we may transcend our lack of understanding about ourselves, life, the Divine and that we might be blessed with true knowledge.

Meaning: 1: Om, (O Lord) Keep me not in the Unreality (of the bondage of the Phenomenal World), but lead me towards the Reality (of the Eternal Self), 2: (O Lord) Keep me not in the Darkness (of Ignorance), but lead me towards the Light (of Spiritual Knowledge), 3: (O Lord) Keep me not in the (Fear of) Death (due to the bondage of the Mortal World), but lead me towards the Immortality (gained by the Knowledge of the Immortal Self beyond Death), 4: Om, (May there be) Peace, Peace, Peace

May you enjoy the auspicious Guru Poornima Full Moon. May you be guided by Wisdom and Light. May you find and live in Peace. Om Shanti, Shanti, Shanti